Synthesis of Low Density and High Purity Silica Xerogels from South African Sugarcane Leaves without the Usage of a Surfactant

Sugarcane leaves were used to produce high-purity and low-density silica xerogels through a sol–gel method. The biogenic produced thermochemical method was reacted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) form silicate the titrated 1 M citric acid gel. formed gel washed, subjected solvent exchange process later dried at 80 °C xerogels. characterized energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption, elemental analysis (CHNS), fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) transmission (TEM). had an amorphous structure purity of 99.9 wt%. In addition, textural properties showed that xerogel has BET surface area 668 m2·g−1, average pore diameter 7.5 nm, volume 1.26 cm3·g−1 density 0.23 g·cm−3.